The Best Cheap Wine From Every State

DRINKING LOCAL

While many people first think of California and maybe New York when it comes to American-made wine, there are actually enjoyable wines produced in every U.S. state. Because of different climates, some areas use sweeter native grapes such as muscadine or chambourcin instead of European varieties such as sauvignon blanc or merlot. As an added twist, many states also produce wines using different fruits, such as pineapple or cherry. In these places, it can be difficult to find traditional wines of good quality for under $20, so many of the best values are wines that use the sweeter native grapes and other fruits -- offering a unique local flavor.

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ALABAMA: HIDDEN MEADOW VINEYARD'S SMITH RIDGE WHITE

Price: $13 | Buy itSmith Ridge White from Hidden Meadow Vineyards is a classic sweet wine made from the muscadine grape. The flavors are very grapey and fruity, pairing perfectly with Southern staples such as spicy fried chicken and salty ham.

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ALASKA: ALASKA BERRIES' HASKAP

Price: $17 | Buy itAlaska doesn't have much in the way of grape wines, but producers there do make wine from other fruits, including the haskap berry, also known as the honeyberry. The 100 percent Alaska-produced haskap wine from Alaska Berries is a unique and authentic taste of what the state has to offer.

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ARIZONA: ARIZONA STRONGHOLD VINEYARD'S 16 MANGUS

Price: $18 | Buy itArizona Stronghold Vineyards is terroir-focused, which means above all else, the winery tries to capture a sense of the land in its wines. It offers a range of popular dry wines, such as the 16 Mangus with its bold body and rich flavor.

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ARKANSAS: POST FAMILIE VINEYARD'S CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Price: $9.50 | Buy itLocals recognize Post Familie Vineyards in Altus as the state's premier winery. The wines range from dry to sweet and are made from American and European grape varieties. The cabernet sauvignon, described as velvety with aromas of plums and currants, is one of its most popular dry reds. (Note: Arkansas state law tightly restricts the shipping of wine. Contact the winery to inquire about prices and how to buy.)

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CALIFORNIA: BONNY DOON VINEYARD'S A PROPER CLARET

Price: $16 | Buy itCalifornia is America's premier wine-producing state, and Bonny Doon wines represent some of the very best made there. While many of its wines are top-tier with prices to match, there are excellent value varieties, as well. A Proper Claret is a medium-bodied red full of spice and berry flavors.

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COLORADO: SUTCLIFFE VINEYARD'S NECTAR RIESLING

Price: $15 | Buy itDessert wines are the stars of the Colorado scene. Sutcliffe Vineyards produces a handful of sweet wines along with its dry selections, and while most are top dollar, there is a cheaper option of similar quality: The Nectar Riesling, which is bright, tart, and sweet, with a lip-smacking taste of melon and peach.

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CONNECTICUT: JERRAM WINERY'S OUR SWEET ROSE

Price: $13 | Buy itJerram Winery is a premier producer in this Northeastern state, and it specializes in wines that blend different grapes for slightly sweet everyday wines. Our Sweet Rose is a top choice for everyday drinkability and pairs well with everything from salads and poultry to spicy fusion cuisine.

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DELAWARE: HARVEST RIDGE WINERY'S CHAMBOURCIN

Price: $18 | Buy itDelaware wine producers focus primarily on native grape varieties that tend to be aromatic and often semi-sweet. Harvest Ridge's Chambourcin is a benchmark example of this indigenous grape and the style of wine it makes, with dark fruit and spice flavors.

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FLORIDA: SAN SEBASTIAN WINERY'S ROSA

Price: $9 | Buy itSan Sebastian is one of the best-known winemakers in Florida. While the climate there makes it difficult to grow traditional European grapes, the winery is able to grow the muscadine grape. San Sebastian's Rosa is a blush wine that celebrates the natural fruitiness of this Southern grape.

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GEORGIA: THREE SISTERS VINEYARD'S PEACHTREE DANCE

Price: $17| Buy itThree Sisters Vineyards produces a whole range of wines, although nothing is quite as particular to the state as its Peachtree Dance. The peach-infused chardonnay is a crisp and fruity wine that offers a true taste of Georgia.

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HAWAII: MAUI WINE'S MAUI SPLASH

Price: $14 | Buy itWhile there are grape wines from Hawaii, the state's pineapple wines offer the best value, not to mention local flavor. Maui Splash is a juicy, semi-sweet wine bursting with fresh pineapple flavor.

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IDAHO: INDIAN CREEK FARM WINERY'S STAR GARNET

Price: $15 | Buy itIndian Creek is a celebrated producer, making classic and experimental wines in a state with a decent climate for growing European and American grape varieties. Its Star Garnet is a unique offering that blends merlot, cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, and malbec, giving sweet hints of chocolate, black cherries, vanilla, and mocha.

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ILLINOIS: FOX VALLEY WINERY'S BLAUFRANKISCH

Price: $20 | Buy itFox Valley Winery in Oswego generally uses grapes and other fruits native to the area, such as concord grapes, in addition to classic wine grapes. Its Blaufrankisch is an Austrian-inspired dry red wine that spends 40 months aging in a combination of French and American oak.

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INDIANA: CAROUSEL WINERY'S CABERNET FRANC

Price: $18 | Buy itCarousel Winery is one of Indiana's most honored producers, making wine with European grapes. Its award-winning cabernet franc has expressive dark fruit, spice, and earth flavors, and exceptional balance.

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IOWA: SUMMERSET WINERY'S PINK FROST

Price: $12 | Buy itWhile Iowa is not known for its dry wines, producers there do make sweet and semi-sweet wines from local grapes. Pink Frost is made in a semi-sweet and tart style with a fruity zing on the finish.

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KANSAS: PRAIRIE FIRE WINERY'S SEYVAL BLANC DRY

Price: $16 | Buy itThe climate in Kansas makes it difficult to grow European grapes, but producers there have had success with hybrid grapes that offer elements of European and American wine styles. Seyval Blanc Dry is aromatic, clean, and dry, similar to dry pinot gris or gewürztraminer.

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KENTUCKY: ELK CREEK VINEYARD'S RED TABLE WINE

Price: $20 | Buy itElk Creek is the premier winery in Kentucky, making sweet and dry wines. Its red table wine is a blend of European grape varieties, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, along with petit syrah, offering classic dry red wine flavors of spice and dark berries and a firm structure.

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LOUISIANA: PONCHARTRAIN VINEYARD'S VOODOO ZIN

Price: $14 | Buy itLouisiana is home to a few wineries, of which Ponchartrain is the most highly regarded. It has a wide offering of traditional and lesser-known grape varieties, a favorite being its VooDoo Zin, which is full-bodied and spicy, with bold fruit flavors.

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MAINE: CELLARDOOR WINERY'S TREASURE

Price: $15 | Buy itMaine is not known for its ability to grow wine grapes, so most wineries source grapes from other states for a majority of production. To capture the flavor of Maine, Cellardoor infuses this specialty wine with wild Maine blueberries and maple syrup. It's an award-winning, fortified dessert wine with layers of complex flavor.

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MARYLAND: BIG CORK VINEYARD'S VIDAL BLANC

Price: $18 | Buy itThe climate and rich farmlands of Maryland make it one of the best-situated states on the East Coast for wine production. Big Cork Vineyards is one of the premier producers of classic and hybrid wine varieties. Its vidal blanc is a highly aromatic white wine with a touch of sweetness that makes it an ideal pairing for spicy foods.

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MASSACHUSETTS: HARDWICK VINEYARD & WINERY'S QUABBIN NATIVE RED WINE

Price: $14 | Buy itHardwick Vineyard & Winery has garnered attention for wines made from the native catawba grape. Its award-winning Quabbin Native Red Wine is a lush wine full of berry fruit and floral flavors that is best served chilled.

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MICHIGAN: BLACK STAR FARMS' ARCTUROS PINOT NOIR ROSÉ

Price: $15.50 | Buy itMichigan has been an up-and-coming wine-producing state for the past decade or so and continues to show promise, especially with grapes that are more difficult to grow, such as pinot noir. Black Star Farms offers high value and quality in wines such as its Arcturos Pinot Noir Rosé, which is dry, fruity, and floral.

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MINNESOTA: CHANKASKA CREEK RANCH & WINERY'S RIESLING

Price: $19 | Buy itMinnesota's climate brings very hot growing seasons and very cold winters, which only hardy grape varieties can survive. Cool-climate grapes such as riesling do well, as seen in this rich and aromatic version.

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MISSISSIPPI: OLD SOUTH WINERY'S SWEET NOBLE

Price: $8.50 | Buy itThere aren't many wine producers in Mississippi, and the wines that sell the most are sweet wines. The Sweet Noble red is juicy and rich, with pure fruit flavors that the winery says come from aging the wine in stainless steel tanks instead of wooden barrels.

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MISSOURI: AUGUSTA WINERY'S ESTATE BOTTLED CHAMBOURCIN

Price: $12 | Buy itAugusta is one of the premier producers in Missouri, offering wines from native grapes, hybrids, and other fruits such as blueberries and raspberries. Estate Bottled Chambourcin is made in a dry style, with rich red fruit and a bold, spicy body.

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MONTANA: TEN SPOON VINEYARD'S FLATHEAD CHERRY DRY

Price: $18 | Buy itWhile vineyards in Montana are capable of growing native and imported grape varieties, their specialty is cherries. Ten Spoon has a wide offering of wines, including Flathead Cherry Dry, which is smooth and full of dark fruit flavors for a unique taste of the terroir.

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NEBRASKA: JAMES ARTHUR VINEYARD'S HIGH ROAD

Price: $15 | Buy itJames Arthur grows a variety of grapes and excels at blended wines. One of its most sought-after, the High Road, is a dry red with a full body made from the best of each red variety.

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NEVADA: PAHRUMP VALLEY WINERY'S CRÈME SHERRY

Price: $17 | Buy itPahrump Valley Winery specializes in sweet and semi-sweet wines. Its crème sherry has won prizes for a smooth and rich flavor that is slightly sweet and nutty from four years of oak aging.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE: LABELLE WINERY'S DRY RIESLING

Price: $17 | Buy itLaBelle, one of New Hampshire's most-recognized producers, makes wines from traditional wine grapes as well as other local fruits. The Dry Riesling is made in a style similar to the wines from the Alsace region on the French-German border, full of finesse and stone fruit aromatics.

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NEW JERSEY: HOPEWELL VALLEY VINEYARD'S BARBERA

Price: $18 | Buy itHopewell Valley Vineyards represents decades of Italian winemaking experience, making its wines a cut above the rest. Its barbera is made in a classic dry style with plenty of tart red fruit and brightness, perfect for pairing with red-sauce dishes.

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NEW MEXICO: ACEQUIA VINEYARDS & WINERY'S CHARDONNAY

Price: $18 | Buy itThe warmer temperatures of New Mexico allow grape growers to use an array of indigenous and imported varieties. Acequia is a top-rated producer, offering hybrid, native, and European-grape-based wines. The chardonnay is ripe and full of golden fruit flavors, with a barely perceptible kiss of sweetness on the finish.

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NEW YORK: FOX RUN VINEYARD'S SEMI-DRY RIESLING

Price: $14 | Buy itWines from New York are starting to make waves in the national and international markets, and for good reason. The state's vast growing regions offer many styles of wine, although most tend to be pricey. Fox Run offers one of the best values with its Semi-Dry Riesling, which is perfectly balanced among flavorful, sweet, and tart.

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NORTH CAROLINA: DUPLIN WINERY'S PINK MAGNOLIA

Price: $8 | Buy itOne of the oldest wineries in the state, Duplin offers a range of semi-sweet wines made from local American grape varieties. Made from muscadine, Pink Magnolia is juicy with flavors of sweet, ripe fruit.

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NORTH DAKOTA: MAPLE RIVER WINERY'S ARONIA WINE

Price: $14 | Buy itThe making of wine from fruit other than grapes is the main form in North Dakota, and Maple River Winery is the premier producer. Of all its creative bottlings, its Aronia Wine is the most authentic, made in a relatively dry style from aronia berries, also called chokeberries, which are native to the United States.

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OHIO: WINERY AT VERSAILLES' PINOT GRIGIO

Price: $13.50 | Buy itOhio's climate allows for the production of classic European varieties such as chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. This perennial favorite pinot grigio is in a traditional dry style with plenty of crisp aromatics and freshness.

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OKLAHOMA: PUT A CORK IN IT WINERY'S BEDLAM BLUSH

Price: $10 | Buy itPut A Cork In It Winery is one of the most admired in Oklahoma, where there are few wineries. It offers a range of dry and sweet bottles. The best value from this producer is the Bedlam Blush, a light, refreshing rosé made in a French style, with flavors of berries and cherries and a dry finish. (Note: Oklahoma has restrictive laws about shipping wine. Contact the winery directly for purchase options.)

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OREGON: ADELSHEIM VINEYARD'S PINOT GRIS

Price: $19 | Buy it Adelsheim has been on the forefront of the wine scene in Oregon for a long time and has garnered attention all over the United States, excelling in aromatic whites. Its pinot gris is made in a European style – dry with plenty of floral and fruit flavors and a silky body.

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PENNSYLVANIA: CROSSING VINEYARDS AND WINERY'S RIESLING

Price: $18 | Buy itRelatively well-suited for wine production, Pennsylvania is home to many grape varieties. Crossing has won awards for its riesling, which is made in a semi-dry style with tart acidity and a gentle sweetness that enhances the ripe fruit flavors.

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RHODE ISLAND: CAROLYN'S SAKONNET'S NV PRANA

Price: $20 | Buy itCarolyn's Sakonnet Winery is renowned in the Northeast as the best wine producer in Rhode Island. Many of its wines have won multiple awards, including the NV Prana, a non-vintage blend of vidal and gewürztraminer for a highly aromatic yet dry white wine.

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SOUTH CAROLINA: ISLAND WINERY'S HARVEST WHITE

Price: $17 | Buy itIsland Winery is on Hilton Head Island in the northeastern part of South Carolina, an ideal location for growing native grape varieties. Harvest White, made from estate-grown grapes, is a charming wine with a lot of fruitiness and a bit of sweetness.

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SOUTH DAKOTA: PRAIRIE BERRY WINERY'S GREAT GRANDMA'S CHOKECHERRY WINE

Price: $19 | Buy itPrairie Berry Winery in the Black Hills is beloved for its wide array of offerings. Many of its dry, European-style wines are pricey, but its fruit wines and sweet wines are more affordable. Made from a family recipe, Great Grandma's Chokecherry Wine is a semi-dry cherry wine that represents decades of South Dakota tradition.

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TENNESSEE: APPLE BARN WINERY'S AB MERLOT

Price: $18.50 | Buy itApple Barn Winery is one of the few producers of dry wine in Tennessee and uses traditional oak aging methods for its reds. AB Merlot is a dry red with notes of toasty oak that complement its rich body and fruity flavors.

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TEXAS: DUCHMAN FAMILY WINERY'S TREBBIANO

Price: $10 | Buy itKnown for it expansive list of grape varieties, Duchman makes 100 percent Texas wines in a range of styles. Its Trebbiano is an easy to love white made from a typically Italian wine and Cognac grape.

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UTAH: CASTLE CREEK WINERY'S MERLOT

Price: $16 | Buy itEuropean varieties such as cabernet sauvignon and merlot grow well in Utah, although there are just a handful of producers. Castle Creek is one of the state's premier wineries offering dry wines, such as its merlot, which is a rich red with a soft body and warm fruit flavors.

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VERMONT: BOYDEN VALLEY VERMONT MAPLE RESERVE

Price: $19 | Buy itThis wine, made in a semi-sweet style, is all about terroir -- and maple flavor with a crisp and clean body and finish that comes from a base of cider.

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VIRGINIA: CHRYSALIS VINEYARD'S ESTATE-BOTTLED NORTON

Price: $19 | Buy itVirginia's wines are positioned to give California and New York a run for their money. One of the most technologically advanced wineries in the country, Chrysalis Vineyards offers a range of wines from American and European grapes. One of the best values is the estate-bottled Norton, which is considered the primary native grape for making dry red wines.

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WASHINGTON: CHARLES SMITH WINES' KUNG FU GIRL RIESLING

Price: $11 | Buy itCharles Smith Wines has become well-known nationally and internationally. Kung Fu Girl Riesling is beloved for its fresh and crisp profile, offering tart and tangy fruit tones with a hint of sweetness that rounds out the flavors.

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WEST VIRGINIA: WEST WHITEHILL WINERY'S RASPBERRY ROYALE

Price: $10 | Buy itWest Whitehill Winery consistently produces award-winning wines made from blending different grape varieties and sometimes other fruits. Raspberry Royale is the best-seller and recipient of multiple awards for its semi-sweet flavor full of aromatic grapes and sweet-tart raspberries.

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WISCONSIN: WOLLERSHEIM WINERY'S PINOT NOIR

Price: $17 | Buy itWollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac is well-known locally for exceptional wines, as well as a line of distilled spirits. The pinot noir sports a low price for a high-quality, 100 percent pinot noir wine. It's light- to medium-bodied, with flavors of flowers and notes of French oak.

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WYOMING: TABLE MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS' COWBOY RESERVE RED

Price: $18 | Buy itTable Mountain Vineyards grows its own grapes and bottles all its wines on the estate. The Cowboy Reserve Red Table Wine is a dry and smoky red wine with a full body and spicy finish.

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